Burnley U18s 2 Blackpool U18s 1

Burnley U18s continued their terrific form to edge out holders Blackpool and reach the semi-finals of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup thanks to a late winner from Jordan Cropper.

Tristan Jumeau (above) put Burnley ahead with an early goal before the Tangerines pulled one back with 20 minutes to go through Dylan Summer.

But as penalties beckoned, Cropper slammed home the winner in the 81st minute to give the Clarets victory over the side that pipped them to the North-West Youth Alliance title last season.

Burnley youth coach Danny Cadamarteri said: “It was a funny game really. I think on reflection it wasn't the greatest performance we have put in over the course of the season.

“But again, it's a competition we would like to progress in.

“We have made a big deal of the ‘never-say-die’ attitude more than anything and continuing to the final whistle.

“We got our noses in front early on but still felt we didn't really do enough to warrant being ahead.

“But our second goal was a good goal and well-worked and it shows where the lads are at in that they don't expect to lose games.”

The Clarets started off well and went 1-0 up through a well worked set-piece as Jumeau was left unmarked at the back post from a corner to nod home and give Danny Cadermarteri's side the lead.

It could have been two minutes later when Terry Mupariwa's curling effort looked to be going in before a fine save from Blackpool keeper Craig Thordarsen denied the midfielder.

The visitors came close to a deserved equaliser before the break when winger Nathan Shaw saw his effort cleared off the line by Clarets’ captain James Clarke.

And Blackpool did eventually make it 1-1 after a free-kick from outside the area from Summer found the top corner of Kai Calderbank-Park’s goal on the Australian keeper’s first competitive outing for the Clarets.

However, the young Clarets have refused to throw in the towel season and it showed late on again when the ball fell nicely to Cropper who drilled the ball into the bottom corner to send Burnley into the last four as they extended their unbeaten run to eight games.